Alexis Sanchez leaves Manchester United to fly home and continue injury recovery

Alexis Sanchez has returned home to Chile to recuperate from his hamstring injury, with the blessing of Manchester United and manager Jose Mourinho. The Chilean now faces six weeks out after what has been a difficult first year at Old Trafford, and probably his worst in a decade in European football. With Sanchez also still affected by the break-up of a relationship with long-term partner Mayte Rodriguez, it was felt that a return home to Topocilla would be best to recover mentally as well as physically. He will thereby spend some of Christmas with his family. Join Indpendent Minds For exclusive articles, events and an advertising-free read for £5.99 €6.99 $9.99 a month Start your free trial Get the best of The Independent With an Independent Minds subscription for just £5.99 €6.99 $9.99 a month Start your free trial Get the best of The Independent Without the ads – for just £5.99 €6.99 $9.99 a month Start your free trial Sanchez landed in Santiago on Tuesday, and will over the next week or so work with some of the Chilean national team staff. United have a good relationship with the federation, who agreed to rest Sanchez for recent friendlies, and the hope is that what amounts to a winter break will revitalise his career and time at Old Trafford. The 29-year-old is expected to miss the rest of the calendar year, with Mourinho admitting last week that he heard “a painful scream” when Sanchez suffered the injury in training at… [Read full story]